Clemson at N.C. State preview capsule

Wednesday

Sep 18, 2013 at 12:01 AMSep 19, 2013 at 12:05 AM

A look at Thursday night's primetime matchup on ESPN

By ERIC BOYNTONeric.boynton@shj.com

No. 3 Clemson at North Carolina StateWhen: 7:30 p.m. ThursdayWhere: Carter-Finley Stadium (Raleigh, N.C.)Records: Clemson (2-0), N.C. State (2-0)TV: ESPNRadio: 93.3 FMRankings: Clemson No. 3 AP, No. 4 USA Today.INSIDE THE GAMEN.C. State’s starting left tackle, Rob Crisp, is listed as questionable to play with an upper body injury. The 6-foot-7, 300-pound senior is the team’s best and most experienced offensive lineman. ... Clemson will play for the first time without injured junior Charone Peake, the team’s second-leading receiver, who tore an ACL last week. ... Clemson is only 2-9 playing Thursday nights on ESPN although the Tigers won their last such outing 42-13 at Wake Forest and their lone other victory came in a 2005 visit to Raleigh. The Wolfpack is 9-9 on ESPN Thursday’s, including 7-5 at home and 4-2 against top-25 teams. ... Tigers kicker Chandler Catanzaro needs eight points to pass Aaron Hunt as the school’s all-time scoring leader. ... Clemson won last season’s meeting 62-48 with quarterback Tajh Boyd accounting for an ACC record eight touchdowns while amassing a school record 529 total yards. ... N.C. State junior Niklas Sade finished last season by making only 6 of 13 field goal tries, but is 7 for 7 this year with three of at least 45 yards. ... The Wolfpack leads the nation in fumble recoveries with six. ... In victories over Louisiana Tech and Richmond, the Wolfpack allowed an average of only 32 yards in the fourth quarter. ... Clemson has won eight of nine in the series with the loss coming two years ago in its last trip to Raleigh. ... N.C. State has defeated the last three top-10 teams it has faced in Florida State twice and Clemson. ... The Wolfpack’s rushing (Matt Dayes) and receiving (Marques Valdes-Scantling) leaders are both first-year freshmen. KEY MATCHUPNorth Carolina State’s defensive line against Clemson’s offense: With a slew of new starters in the secondary and the front-four being the most experienced part of the defense, the Wolfpack will need to not only contain quarterback Tajh Boyd from finding running lanes, but also make him uncomfortable in the pocket so he can’t pick apart that secondary. Bandit end Darryl Cato-Bishop has started more career games than anyone State’s roster.PLAYERS TO WATCHClemson — WR Germone Hopper: The 6-foot, 175-pound Charlotte product made the most of his increased opportunity against S.C. State in the team’s last outing. The redshirt freshman caught six passes for 66 yards and two touchdowns in being named the ACC Rookie of the Week. With starter Charone Peake out for the season, there are more available passes for the remaining receivers and Hopper could emerge as a big-play threat.N.C. State — QB Pete Thomas: The 6-foot-6 junior transfer from Colorado State, where he started 21 games, was beaten out for this year’s starting job by Brandon Mitchell before he suffered a broken foot in the season-opener. Thomas isn’t ideally suited for the Pack’s offense, but he was the next best option. He’s yet to throw a touchdown pass, but has been intercepted three times in 39 attempts.INDIVIDUAL STATISTICSRUSHINGClemson — Rod McDowell 30-175 (5.8), C.J. Davidson 13-63 (4.8), Tajh Boyd 19-52 (2.7), 3 TDs, Zac Brooks 9-51 (5.7), D.J. Howard 9-25 (2.8), 1 TD.N.C. State — Matt Dayes 31-127 (4.1), 3 TDs, Tony Creecy 25-103 (4.1), 1 TD, Bryant Shirreffs 13-70 (5.4), 1 TD, Pete Thomas 11-45 (4.1).PASSINGClemson — Tajh Boyd 22-53-0, 439 yards, 3 TDs, Cole Stoudt 19-20-0, 143 yards, 3 TDs.N.C. State — Pete Thomas 39-58-3, 449 yards, Bryant Shirreffs 3-3-0, 19 yards, 1 TDRECEIVINGClemson — Sammy Watkins 9-146 (16.2), 1 TD, Adam Humphries 7-53 (7.6), Germone Hopper 6-66 (11.0), 2 TDs, Martavis Bryant 4-87 (21.8), Stanton Seckinger 4-50 (12.5), 1 TD.N.C. State — Marques Valdes-Scantling 12-174 (14.5), Rashard Smith 12-145 (12.1), Matt Dayes 5-47 (9.4), 1 TD, Bryan Underwood 4-21 (5.2).DEFENSEClemson — Spencer Shuey 23 tackles, Stephone Anthony 21 tackles, 2 TFL, 1.5 sacks, Grady Jarrett 13 tackles, 1.5 TFL, Robert Smith 11 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack, Corey Crawford 11 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 1 interception, Kellen Jones 11 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack.N.C. State — Robert Caldwell 18 tackles, 1 TFL, Hakim Jones 12 tackles, Juston Burris 10 tackles, Jarvis Byrd 10 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries.

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